Beyond Screen Time: What Every Parent Needs to Know This Cyber Awareness Month
As the world marks Cyber Awareness Month, it’s the perfect time for us to pause and update our family’s digital playbook. As a parenting guide with a background in cyberpsychology, I know how overwhelming it can be. The digital world our children navigate changes so fast that last year’s rules can feel obsolete.
We often focus on the what – what apps to block, what websites to restrict, and how many hours of screen time to allow. But to truly guide our kids, we need to understand the why. Why are they so drawn to certain games? Why does online validation feel so important? And why do they sometimes make risky choices online that they would never make in person?
That’s where cyberpsychology comes in.
What is Cyberpsychology?
Think of cyberpsychology as the study of the human mind and behaviour in the context of technology and the internet. It explores how we think, feel, and interact with each other through our devices. For parents, this is our superpower. It helps us move beyond being the “tech police” and become empathetic digital mentors. It’s the difference between saying “Get off that app!” and asking, “What do you love about that app? How does it make you feel when you connect with your friends on it?”
This understanding is crucial for tackling the real challenges our children face online today. Here’s a quick update on the key areas you should have on your radar in 2025.
The State of Cybercrime
The threat is no longer just about computer viruses. Cybercriminals are sophisticated and now target children directly, knowing they can be easier to manipulate.
- What it looks like now: Phishing scams disguised as “free V-Bucks/Robux” giveaways, quizzes that harvest personal data (“What’s your superhero name?”), Fake celebrity accounts are asking for followers or information. They also create pressure, such as in-game messages that urge kids to click a link to “help a teammate.”
- Children are naturally more trusting and have less developed impulse control. The desire for social status (like a rare game skin) or the fear of missing out can easily override their caution.
- For Parents: Instead of just saying “Don’t click strange links,” teach them critical thinking. Ask, “Does that offer sound too good to be true? Why would a stranger give you something for free?” This builds their internal “scam detector.” Also, use parental controls on app stores to manage and approve all purchases.
The Evolution of Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying has become more subtle and persistent. It’s not just mean comments; it’s a 24/7 social pressure cooker.
- What it looks like now: Intentional exclusion from WhatsApp or Snapchat groups, sharing unflattering screenshots, using AI to create embarrassing images, and silent treatment online where a child’s posts are deliberately ignored by a group.
- The “online disinhibition effect” means people often feel bolder and less empathetic behind a screen. For a child, being excluded from a digital group can feel as painful as being physically ostracised at school, because their social life lives online.
- For Parents: Foster empathy as your core value. Regularly talk about what it means to be a kind friend online—an “upstander,” not a bystander. Keep communication lines wide open so you are the first person they turn to if they feel hurt. Reassure them that you won’t react by simply confiscating their device, which is often their biggest fear.
The Importance of Cyber-inclusion
This is a newer but vital concept. It’s about ensuring digital spaces are welcoming and accessible to everyone, and that our children are being inclusive in their own online communities.
- What it looks like now: A child feeling left out because they don’t have the latest phone or can’t afford an in-game purchase their friends have. It can also be a lack of diverse representation in the games they play or the videos they watch.
- A child’s sense of belonging is paramount to their development. The digital world is a key place where they forge this sense of identity and community. Feeling excluded online can directly impact their self-esteem.
- For Parents: Talk to your kids about digital etiquette and being mindful of others’ feelings and circumstances in their group chats and gaming sessions. Encourage them to engage with content that shows diverse perspectives.
The Danger of Cyber-overexposure (Sharenting and Oversharing)
This is a two-way street: what we share about our kids (“sharenting”) and what they share about themselves. Digital footprints are forever—and both parents and children contribute to them.
- What it looks like now: Parents posting every milestone without their child’s consent, creating a digital footprint the child didn’t ask for. For kids, it’s sharing their location, personal struggles, or every minor detail of their day to gain validation through likes and comments.
- The brain’s reward system gets a hit of dopamine from online validation. This can create a cycle where a child’s self-worth becomes tied to their online performance. They may also have a blurred understanding of what’s public versus what’s private.
- For Parents: Model healthy boundaries. Ask your child for permission before you post their photo. Teach them the “Grandma Rule”—if you wouldn’t want Grandma (or a future school administrator or employer) to see it, don’t post it. Help them build an identity based on their real-world character, talents, and relationships, not just on their online persona.
Our goal isn't to wrap our children in digital cotton wool, but to equip them with the wisdom and resilience to thrive online. By understanding the psychology behind their clicks, we can better guide them through this complex world with… Share on XOur goal isn’t to wrap our children in digital cotton wool, but to equip them with the wisdom and resilience to thrive online. By understanding the psychology behind their clicks, we can better guide them through this complex world with connection and confidence.